This text is part of the special Research section
“We must recognize that we cannot close all our industries. We have to find a way to operate that harms our territory as little as possible, ”says Nicole Fenton, co-director of the Forest Research Institute (IRF). At the IRF as at the Institute for Research in Mines and the Environment (IRME), research in partnership therefore occupies a primordial place.
Building a partnership
Building a partnership takes time and energy. “Our way of working is what makes us unique,” observes Vincent Cloutier, director of IRME. “You have to find the subject and the way of doing things that brings everyone together”, says Mme Fenton. And if the physical proximity to the environment makes contact easier, relationships must still be built slowly, as the bond of trust is built.
In addition to industrial partners (such as mining and forestry companies), a wide range of actors collaborate in each project: MRC, Aboriginal communities and band councils, ministries, etc. “This diversity around the table gives rise to rich discussions and generates innovative projects. It allows solutions to be put in place quickly, ”says Nicole Fenton.
Even if it is possible to conduct purely theoretical research in this area, working in partnership makes it possible to ensure “that we are examining real problems for all, which will affect the lives of Quebecers and Canadians. », She emphasizes.
Research at IRF
Located in the heart of the boreal forest, the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) is a natural place for a research department on sustainable forest management. “We are working on several axes,” says Nicole Fenton, who is also a specialist in bryophytes and their habitats (mosses).
The work of the ten IRF professors is interested in several questions, for example how to capture the footprint of mines and define their impact on biodiversity. “We are looking for possible solutions to reduce their impact,” she explains. Nicole Fenton, for her part, is studying peatlands and is leading a research project to better understand the biodiversity of wetlands in the Eeyou Istchee (James Bay) territory, both from the point of view of science and that of Cree and Anichinabe knowledge. “The mapping of peatlands, for example, makes it possible to define important areas for the various actors”, explains Mme Fenton.
We must recognize that we cannot shut down all our industries. We have to find a way to operate that does as little harm as possible to our territory.
Research at the Institute takes different forms, in particular through research chairs. The Institutional Chair in Sustainable Forest Management has played an important role in Quebec for 20 years and brings together all the major players in forestry in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec. “It is a chair of great regional importance, which responds to the needs of stakeholders,” notes Mme Fenton.
Research at IRME
At IRME, partnerships are also forged with industry as well as with other circles. “This is the Institute for Research on Mines and the Environment. For us, the two are inseparable, ”explains director Vincent Cloutier. IRME’s mission is, among other things, to develop environmental solutions for the entire life cycle of a mine, from exploration to operation, including the recovery of mine wastes and restoration.
Participating in partnership research offers a learning opportunity for IRME students, who have access to several nearby sites. The second part of IRM’s mission is to train highly qualified personnel.
The research themes of the 16 IRME professor-researchers explore all stages and all aspects of mining, for example the active treatment of contaminated water. The most recent chair of IRME, for its part, focuses on new minerals that are increasingly sought after.
In recent years, work on abandoned mining sites has been added to upstream work. “The first works have evolved, to arrive at what we think of the methods of restoration of the sites from the outset in the future. The industry wants to find solutions upstream. The best management [de l’eau, des résidus] brings environmental benefits, but also economic ones, ”concludes Mr. Cloutier.